Site Content and Creation

I only use free/open source software in creating content for ManicPop.org (unless I'm updating from my phone or someone else's computer), and all the content on this site is published in free/open formats and published under a Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 United States License (external links are of course whatever they are, I'm not out to convert the entire Internet).

Free/open source software... what does this mean to me, the reader?

It means that all content you see on this site is created using software that is not only free of cost, but free in the sense that source code is freely available to view, edit, and use in derivative works, with a few exceptions. (The Wikipedia article on F/OSS gives a good overview of what this means, and the difference in philosophies between “free software” and “open source” – I generally say “free/open source” to keep from pissing off one camp or the other.)

What are some examples of software you use?

My main workstation is a 3ghz Pentium 4 system running the latest Mandriva Linux. I run KDE4, browse with Firefox, rock with Amarok, chat with X-Chat and Pidgin, edit with Vim, Bluefish, and OO.o Writer, and paint with KolourPaint and GIMP.

Dude, get a new computer!

I would like to get (or build) a new computer, but first I must become an internationally-known blogger who fills his site with annoying, obtrusive banner ads, so I can make enough money to do so.

So you, like, hate Microsoft, right, dude?

No, and I'm not morally opposed to commercial software either. I use commercial/proprietary software every day, whether it be Windows on my living room computer, the software in my cell phone, or the code that makes the on-screen menu on my television or the display panel on my microwave work. Everything has its place. I grew up with Windows, I use it daily, and I like it. I would like to see F/OSS succeed in the “marketplace of ideas” because the development model works and it gives people more control over how they use software, not because of some moral opposition to proprietary software. Use what works!

(However, I DO hate Apple... just because their OS is crappy and their “followers” are morons. “Yeah, dude, I'll totally throw down extra money for a laptop that has a glowing Apple logo on the back so people know I'm cool!”)

Okay, explain free/open formats.

All media on this website will be made available in patent-free (and DRM-free) formats that do not require special proprietary software to be viewed or used. (If you want to pick nits, you could argue that GIF and JPG images on this website are not "patent-free," as they have both been patented and caught up in legal issues, but they've seen widespread adoption and have open source implementations. However, I do generally use PNG where appropriate.)

And the Creative Commons license?

Everything on this site is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 United States License. This basically means that you are free to use any of the work published on this site however you see fit as long as you let people know where you got it. PLEASE ACTUALLY READ THE LINK because this is an extreme simplification. The general idea is... if you like it, it's yours! Just let people know where you got it. Yes, I know, I'm very generous.

So basically, the idea is...

...make everything as free and open as possible. I run this website for no other reason except for that I have some crazy ideas in my head and I'd like to share them with the world. Even if very few are actually listening, I want my content to be as widely available and as easily viewable as possible. I don't want my content to be encumbered by the license restrictions of some corporation any more than I want large annoying banner ads for corporations plastered all over my pages.

This works for me.

Me too!

I'm glad you like it!

Last Updated Wednesday, September 02 2009 @ 01:05 AM PDT|